00:07Basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, officially known today as Fort Moore,
00:12spans approximately 10 weeks. It is recognized as one of the most demanding
00:18and rigorous training programs in the United States Army.
00:28Each year, over 60,000 recruits graduate from training here,
00:32preparing to serve with discipline, strength, and purpose.
00:44Upon arrival, new recruits are directed to the reception battalion. This is where the transformation begins.
00:50Are you all ready, girls, are you?
00:53Come out, I win!
00:58Within the first 72 hours, recruits receive their Army uniforms, undergo drug testing,
01:03and are issued their first set of essential gear, including boot camp supplies, identification tags,
01:09and protective equipment.
01:11Come out, I win!
01:13Come out, I win!
01:15Come out, I win!
01:18For decades, the infamous shark attack marked the chaotic start of training.
01:23But in 2020, the Army replaced this with a new event, the first 100 yards.
01:28This updated tradition emphasizes mentorship, leadership, and teamwork over fear-based intimidation,
01:34setting a more constructive tone for military discipline.
01:50Sleep is limited.
01:52Recruits average only 4 to 6 hours of rest per night, as they adjust to the strict schedule and unrelenting
01:57pace of Army life.
01:58Pull yourself up, come on!
02:00Pull it!
02:02Push it!
02:02Let's go!
02:03Go, go, go!
02:05One of the most challenging parts of training is the obstacle course,
02:08designed to test physical strength, agility, endurance, and mental resilience.
02:14Go!
02:16Let's go, let's go!
02:20Go, go!
02:20Recruits climb ropes, leap walls, balance across beams, and crawl beneath barbed wire,
02:27all under timed pressure and watchful eyes.
02:31Thanks, sir!
02:34The U.S. Army's obstacle courses are modeled after real combat conditions and emphasize cardiovascular fitness.
02:48this. Training can burn up to 600 calories per hour, making it one of the most effective
02:54full-body workouts in military preparation. Each obstacle serves a purpose. The rope climb
03:08demands upper body strength and proper technique. The low crawl, moving under barbed wire, develops
03:24grit and the ability to stay low under fire.
03:37These military challenges have even inspired civilian races like Spartan Race and Tough Mudder,
03:44attracting thousands worldwide who want to experience a fraction of what soldiers endure.
03:53At Fort Moore, one of the final tests is the Darby Mile obstacle course. Spanning a mile and featuring
04:00over 20 combat simulated challenges, it pushes recruits to the edge of exhaustion, physically
04:11and mentally proving they are ready for combat.
04:20Another unforgettable milestone is the gas chamber exercise, typically conducted during week
04:25three of basic training. This drill teaches soldiers how to properly use the M50 gas mask
04:31in a simulated chemical attack scenario. The gas used is CS gas, short for chlorobenzylidine
04:42malinona trial, a form of tear gas that causes intense eye, nose and throat irritation, along
04:49with coughing and skin discomfort. Soldiers enter the chamber with masks on, perform light exercises
05:11to increase heart rate, and then are ordered to remove their masks.
05:27The experience is deliberately uncomfortable triggering panic-like symptoms, yet it is precisely designed
05:34to build trust in their equipment and teach composure under pressure.
05:49The M50 gas mask provides 99.97% protection against airborne threats, including particulates
05:58and chemical agents. Exposure to CS gas typically lasts less than a minute, with symptoms subsiding
06:18within 15 to 30 minutes after exiting the chamber.
06:37The gas chamber drill also serves a critical purpose, testing the proper seal of a gas mask.
06:43If the mask is worn incorrectly, the CS gas will immediately penetrate the seal, causing intense discomfort.
06:59Despite its severity, CS gas is not lethal. Its effects, burning eyes, coughing and difficulty breathing,
07:07typically subside within 15 to 30 minutes after exiting the chamber.
07:22Drinking water immediately after the drill is strongly discouraged, as it can spread the chemical residue
07:28throughout the mouth and throat, worsening symptoms.
07:41Some soldiers may experience mild skin irritation or a lingering cough for a few hours post-exposure.
07:47However, these effects are temporary and fade quickly with time and fresh air.
07:53Let's go. Let's go. Open your eyes. Open your eyes.
07:58Chemical warfare training of this kind is not unique to the Army.
08:02Similar exercises are conducted across all branches of the U.S. military, including the Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force,
08:09to ensure every service member is prepared to operate under chemical threat conditions.
08:13One to ten. I really sucked.
08:18Another core skill learned at Fort Moore is rappelling.
08:22The rappel tower, typically 40 to 60 feet tall, simulates descending buildings, cliffs or helicopters during operations.
08:37Soldiers practice both backward and Australian, face-first, rappelling techniques, learning to trust their gear,
08:45manage fear and control descent using proper form, break hand techniques and emergency stopping positions.
08:57The tower prepares soldiers for real-world vertical movement, especially during airborne missions or urban warfare.
09:05Come on, guys.
09:11I have no problem taking it from you.
09:14Instructors ensure that soldiers learn proper hand positioning, footwork and descent speed control before attempting the full rappel tower.
09:30The break hand is the most crucial aspect of rappelling.
09:33It controls the speed of descent and prevents uncontrolled falls.
09:43Soldiers must master the T-brake position, a technique that enables them to stop mid-descent in case of emergencies
09:50or obstacles.
10:02The first descent is often the most challenging for new recruits, as it demands both physical courage and mental discipline.
10:15However, repeated attempts build confidence, efficiency and control.
10:27Developed by Australian Commandos, the face-first rappel improves landing zone visibility, boosts situational awareness and builds confidence under pressure.
10:44Rifle training is a cornerstone of basic training, where soldiers are taught marksmanship, weapon safety and real-world combat shooting
10:52techniques.
10:58The primary weapon used in U.S. Army rifle training is the M4 Carbine, a 5.56mm, gas-operated, magazine
11:08-fed rifle capable of semi-automatic and three-round burst fire.
11:14The M4A1 variant features full automatic capability.
11:22Soldiers learn the four fundamentals of marksmanship.
11:25A steady shooting position, proper aiming, controlled breathing and smooth trigger squeeze.
11:36Zeroing a rifle, adjusting the sights so rounds hit the target at known distances, typically 25 meters, is a crucial
11:44step before qualification.
11:49To graduate rifle training, recruits must pass the range qualification course, engaging targets from 50 to 300 meters in a
11:57variety of shooting stances, standing, kneeling and prone.
12:08The performance earns one of three marksmanship badges, marksman, sharpshooter or expert, depending on accuracy and consistency.
12:30Live fire exercises add realism, simulating battlefield conditions where recruits engage multiple targets under strict time constraints.
12:52The M4 Carbine has an effective range of up to 500 meters and is versatile in both close quarters combat
12:59and medium range engagements.
13:16Weapon training in the Army expands beyond the M4 to include a wide array of firearms, explosives and tactical combat
13:24techniques.
13:33Shotguns such as the Mossberg 500 and M26 modular accessory shotgun system are used for breaching doors and close range
13:42defense, particularly in urban warfare.
13:57Anti-tank training includes the FGM 1-4-Yay Javelin and AT-4 rocket launchers, powerful systems capable of neutralizing
14:05armored vehicles and fortified enemy positions.
14:17Machine gun training involves learning to operate the M240B and the M249 saw, both of which deliver suppressive firepower in
14:27support of infantry squads.
14:36In grenade training, soldiers handle M67 fragmentation grenades, learning proper throwing techniques, how to take cover, and how to use
14:46explosives effectively during assaults.
14:54Casualty care and medical training are vile components of both basic and advanced combat instruction, ensuring every soldier can provide
15:02life-saving aid under fire.
15:08Troops are trained in tactical combat casualty care, or TCCC, a standardized approach to battlefield medicine based on the MARCH
15:17protocol, massive hemorrhage, airway, respiration, circulation, and hypothermia prevention.
15:38Medics train with advanced tools like hemostatic dressings, such as quick clot, that promote rapid clotting and halt severe hemorrhaging
15:47in seconds.
16:03Soldiers also learn to perform needle chest decompression to treat tension pneumothorax, a leading cause of death from blast injuries
16:11and gunfire to the chest.
16:21Airway management training includes the use of nasopharyngeal airways, allowing unconscious casualties to breathe and survive until further care arrives.
16:37Evacuation drills are performed under simulated fire, where soldiers practice carrying wounded comrades using the fireman's carry, drag techniques, and
16:47stretchers.
16:54Recognizing the signs of shock, pale skin, rapid heart rate, and disorientation is critical, and soldiers learn to treat it
17:03using fluid resuscitation and proper positioning.
17:10Combat medic training also includes applying chest seals, pressure bandages, and combat gauze to stabilize patients for evacuation.
17:30Mass casualty simulations are conducted where recruits must triage, prioritize, and provide care to multiple wounded soldiers while under stress,
17:39testing their leadership, resilience, and decision-making.
17:51Buddy aid is emphasized across all ranks, ensuring every soldier, regardless of role, can administer basic first aid to a
18:00fellow service member when medics are not immediately available.
18:14Graduation from basic training marks a recruit's official transition into the United States Army.
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